We share a deep concern about a lot of things happening in our time. I see evidence of this every day when I open my email inbox. Emails make the rounds daily sounding various alarms, some reaching the doomsday level. I understand the fear but I’m not overwhelmed or in despair. Because – as a believer – I know how everything will turn out. And I know God is in control. And I know . . .

Men, however powerful and rebellious and to whatever extent they engage in wickedness, CANNOT DEFEAT GOD. They can refuse to embrace His promises, but cannot take us away from Him or deny us His grace. Don’t worry about God being defeated or heaven be conquered by hell. Here’s one place where this is clear.

1 Why do the nations rage,
And the people plot a vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves,
And the rulers take counsel together,
Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying,
3 “Let us break Their bonds in pieces
And cast away Their cords from us.”
4 He who sits in the heavens shall laugh;
The Lord shall hold them in derision.
5 Then He shall speak to them in His wrath,
And distress them in His deep displeasure:
6 “Yet I have set My King
On My holy hill of Zion.”
7 “I will declare the decree:
The Lord has said to Me,
‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
8 Ask of Me, and I will give You
The nations for Your inheritance,
And the ends of the earth for Your possession.
9 You shall £break them with a rod of iron;
You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’”
10 Now therefore, be wise, O kings;
Be instructed, you judges of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear,
And rejoice with trembling.
12 £Kiss the Son, lest £He be angry,
And you perish in the way,
When His wrath is kindled but a little.
Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.

Psalm 2 (New King James)

Four scenes come to our attention.

The first is rebellion on earth. Here are men making their silly plans to defeat God. It is one thing for people to live their lives without any concern about God; not caring . . . that’s bad enough. But this goes beyond ignoring God; this is men plotting, planning and thinking in vain they can defeat God.

The language here is dynamic: “The nations rage…” “The people plot a vain thing…” “The kings of the earth set themselves against the Lord and against His Anointed.”

Out of this vain counsel the writer tells us what men had decided, in verse 3: “Let us break Their bonds apart and cast away Their cords from us.” This conveys their rebellion against the Godhead.

It would be like men today coming together in some sort of counsel, and they write in the minutes of their meeting – Resolved, we will not tolerate God. We will defeat the cause of Christ. The first scene in Psalm 2 is one of repulsive rebellion against God and against Christ.

There are many examples of this in the Bible. The men who conspired against God’s will, and built the Tower of Babel; The Egyptian regime, refusing to let God’s people go; The empires of Assyria and Babylon; Then, the scribes and Pharisees who executed our Lord. In each case: men plotting against Deity.

I am persuaded – there are men today doing what these men did. There are books in circulation today like this:

Ø The Case Against God, by George H. Smith.

Ø The God Delusion, by Richard Dawkins.

Ø God Is Not Great, by Christopher Hitchens.

There are movies like The Golden Compass. Messages placed on Starbucks coffee cups like this, “Why would you ask God for help . . . He is a figment of your imagination!” And it may well be – on deeper levels, beyond our vision and knowledge – men and women plot vain things against God.

Consider God’s response; this is the second scene:

2 The kings of the earth set themselves,
And the rulers take counsel together,
Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying,
3 “Let us break Their bonds in pieces
And cast away Their cords from us.”
4 He who sits in the heavens shall laugh;
The Lord shall hold them in derision.

God has never been intimidated by the threats of men. You cannot threaten God into backing away or going away. You cannot scare Him into changing His plans.

Know this! God is not only not moved from His purpose by the vain plots of men . . .

“He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision.” Men have no chance of any success, in their plots against God. God is not worried.

His purpose is never thwarted by men. He responds like this (v.6): “Yet, I have set my King on My holy hill of Zion.” God wasn’t discouraged by the vain plots of men.

With reference to the Kingdom of Christ, God would do what He planned. We believe God did do what He planned. Christ came and after His death, He was raised and ascended to the right hand of God.

God’s plan to send His Son and anoint His Son as King of Kings was not adjusted, changed or defeated by the vain plots of men. In fact, the next (3rd) scene is…

David’s portrayal of God carrying out His plan and Christ is exalted to His throne.

7 “I will declare the decree:
The Lord has said to Me,
‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
8 Ask of Me, and I will give You
The nations for Your inheritance,
And the ends of the earth for Your possession.
9 You shall £break them with a rod of iron;
You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’”

David speaks here, but He speaks prophetically – on behalf of the One who would occupy the throne forever. We know God said to Christ, “You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.” We know God gave to Christ, the rule, the throne, “the nations for” an “inheritance,” and “the ends of the earth” for His possession. For us these are past historical events with present and future blessings for penitent believers.

We see Christ here, ruling – using the rod of iron to break the rebellious, dashing them to pieces like a potter’s vessel. The throne of David would be forever occupied by Christ. As written by Daniel, by Isaiah and Ezekiel. This is Christ on His heavenly throne, written by David in the 2nd Psalm.

Everything here points to the establishment of that kingdom we are now citizens of if we have obeyed the gospel.

This is more than just distinction conferred upon Christ; this goes beyond simple recognition or approval. It is the truth that all are subject of Christ; He reigns; He rules; He has obtained a more excellent name.

Our only hope, is to put our lives under His Rule. Men fought with all their heart against God and His Anointed but their plots were in vain.

The Fourth Scene: An Invitation To All

10 Now therefore, be wise, O kings;
Be instructed, you judges of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear,
And rejoice with trembling.
12 £Kiss the Son, lest £He be angry,
And you perish in the way,
When His wrath is kindled but a little.
Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.


Wise men obey Him! Wise kings rule, aware of God’s

sovereignty and Christ’s authority. Our only hope is, serving the Lord with fear.

Conclusion: Christ Rules Now!

He has absolute dominion over the whole human race. Our lives find good purpose, only in submission to Him. He is the King in Zion, promised by God, the head of the church – the only Savior.

Rulers, Dictators and Terrorists stand defeated.

It may appear they enjoy victory, but that’s only a temporary perception. They cannot win!! Their only redemption is to repent; to serve the Lord with fear and to kiss the hand of the One they now hate.

And so: “Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.”

By Warren E. Berkley
From Expository Files 16.12; December 2009

https://www.bible.ca/